The egr valve's job is to control combustion temperature. When the catalytic converter was added the temp had to go up. The converter does not become effective until it reaches 600F, and in order to maintain that temp, the engine temp had to rise. Thermostats were set in the 160F range, and increased to 190F. However, the increased temp/pressure caused pre-ignition (spark knock)which greatly increases hydrocarbon levels (unburned gasoline) and carbon monoxide (partially burned gasoline). To control this, the egr was added. What it does is pipe back a controlled amount of exhaust gas into the combustion chamber. Since the total capacity of the chamber is fixed, there must, by definition, now be less combustible gas in the chamber, and so therefore when the spark ignites, the burn is less. Typically an egr recirculates 20% gas back into the combustion chamber. So, if removed, you will experience pre-ignition unless you either retard timing which will cause hard cold starts and poor combustion, or change the thermostat to drop combustion temperature. If the catalyst is still on the car, it will no longer function if temperature is lowered.